Daily Retreat 06/29/07
2007 Jun 29 Fri:PETER AND PAUL, APS S
Vigil:Acts 3:1-10/Ps 18(19):2-3. 4-5/Gal 1:11-20/Jn 21:15-19.
Day:Acts 12:1-11/Ps 33(34):2-3. 4-5. 6-7. 8-9/2 Tm 4:6-8. 17-18/Mt 16:13-19
From today’s readings: “Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the Church was fervently being made to God on his behalf.... The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear Him.... I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand.... You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church....”
Stumbling to Success
Peter and Paul were certainly the most noteworthy apostles - Peter, that chosen rock providing stability, direction, and leadership for the Church; and Paul, that teacher of the nations in faith and truth. And yet, in spite of their glorious and indispensable roles in the Church, these two were also the ones with the most glaring failings among all the faithful apostles.
Both Peter and Paul were keenly aware of their sins - not just Peter’s denials of Jesus and Paul’s persecution of Him, but also their day-to-day struggles and their evident character flaws and lapses. So no wonder both of them rightly recognized where the credit belonged - that it was God Himself who rescued them from peril (as Peter insisted, “Now I know for certain that the Lord sent His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod”) and strengthened them in their weakness (as Paul maintained, “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength”) and worked marvels through them.
So the examples of Peter and Paul remind us that the decision to welcome Christ as our Savior does not make us impervious to temptation and incapable of sin. Like those apostolic princes, each of us must struggle constantly with our own character flaws and lapses. And yet even the most glaring failing can’t prevent us from turning to God so He can rescue us from peril, strengthen us in weakness, and even work marvels through us to the glory of His Name!
Vigil:Acts 3:1-10/Ps 18(19):2-3. 4-5/Gal 1:11-20/Jn 21:15-19.
Day:Acts 12:1-11/Ps 33(34):2-3. 4-5. 6-7. 8-9/2 Tm 4:6-8. 17-18/Mt 16:13-19
From today’s readings: “Peter thus was being kept in prison, but prayer by the Church was fervently being made to God on his behalf.... The angel of the Lord will rescue those who fear Him.... I, Paul, am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand.... You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church....”
Stumbling to Success
Peter and Paul were certainly the most noteworthy apostles - Peter, that chosen rock providing stability, direction, and leadership for the Church; and Paul, that teacher of the nations in faith and truth. And yet, in spite of their glorious and indispensable roles in the Church, these two were also the ones with the most glaring failings among all the faithful apostles.
Both Peter and Paul were keenly aware of their sins - not just Peter’s denials of Jesus and Paul’s persecution of Him, but also their day-to-day struggles and their evident character flaws and lapses. So no wonder both of them rightly recognized where the credit belonged - that it was God Himself who rescued them from peril (as Peter insisted, “Now I know for certain that the Lord sent His angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod”) and strengthened them in their weakness (as Paul maintained, “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength”) and worked marvels through them.
So the examples of Peter and Paul remind us that the decision to welcome Christ as our Savior does not make us impervious to temptation and incapable of sin. Like those apostolic princes, each of us must struggle constantly with our own character flaws and lapses. And yet even the most glaring failing can’t prevent us from turning to God so He can rescue us from peril, strengthen us in weakness, and even work marvels through us to the glory of His Name!
posted by FrPitstick | 6/28/2007
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